Roman sends Salido to retirement with TKO win; Ogawa, Vargas win

SAN DIEGO, Calif., December 10, 2017 – Fans of all-action boxing got their money’s worth at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas Saturday night. Veteran Mexican warrior Miguel “Mickey” Roman (58-12, 45 KOs) of Chihuahua took the place of the injured WBC super featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt on short notice, and gave a tremendous performance against Orlando “Siri” Salido of Sonora, Mexico (44-14-4, 31 KOs). Roman knocked down the four time world champion twice in their super featherweight fight enroute to a ninth round TKO win.

Miguel Roman and Orlando Salido gave fans all the action they could handle, with Roman winning by ninth round TKO. Photo: Ed Mulholland, HBO Boxing

At age 37, Salido didn’t have a lot of wars left in him. It was only his second bout since the June 2016 fight with Francisco Vargas. No one knew what Salido might have left, but no one doubted Salido would give it all. He showed he was willing to go out on his shield, getting up from two solid knockdowns and returning fire as best he could. This is why fans are still eager to see men like Roman and Salido in the ring.

“I thought he was done, but he’s a warrior,” said Roman of Salido after his victory. “I was surprised by the way he came back, but that’s Orlando Salido, he’s known for that.” Roman, age 32, said he aimed for the knockout. “I didn’t want to leave nothing to the judges. I was determined to knock him out, because I wanted to make sure I got a victory.

Salido said after the fight his career is now over. “”It’s a matter of age. Time takes its toll,” said Salido. “I’m done. This was it, This was my last. Thank you to all, to those who will remember me for all the great fights that I had, and to the people who have followed me.” If this was indeed Siri Salido’s last trip into the ring, fans around the world will celebrate and remember him for his many Fight of the Year performances.

In his first 12-round fight, Tevin Farmer (25-5-1, 5 KOs) of Philadelphia lost a controversial decision to Kenichi Ogawa of Japan (23-1, 17 KOs), who wins the IBF super featherweight title. It was a big step up in competition for the 27-year-old Farmer. It was Ogawa’s first appearance outside Japan. Ogawa was aggressive throughout the fight, and directed much of the action. Farmer produced more offense, landing 158 of 525 total punches (30 percent) to 99 of 445 for Ogawa (22 percent). Farmer landed 132 power punches; Ogawa 92 power punches.

Kenichi Ogawa of Japan won the vacant IBF super featherweight title with a decision over Tevin Farmer of Philadelphia. Photo: Ed Mulholland, HBO Boxing

“For me to become a world champion was everything to me. This is the happiest day of my life,” said Ogawa. “I see this as the beginning of my boxing life.”

Asked about crticism of the outcome, Ogawa said whle everybody’s entitled to their opinion, it’s the judges who make the call. “I was the one putting on more pressure, and being the aggressor. So their opinion doesn’t matter to me.”

Francisco Vargas (left) had a successful return to the ring against Stephen Smith of England. Photo: Ed Mulholland, HBO Boxing

Opening the HBO broadcast, Francisco Vargas of Mexico City (24-1-2, 17 KOs) defeated Stephen Smith of Liverpool, England (25-4, 15 KOs) in a nine-round decision victory. The scores were 89-82, 88-83 and 88-83. The fight was stopped by the ringside physician due to a significant tear in Smith’s left ear, suffered as the result of an accidental headbutt. Smith continued with the torn ear for several more rounds before it became too much of a bloody mess to allow him to continue.

“This was a great win for me, and I’m happy I ended the year on a good note,” said Vargas. With my new team, I know I’ll be back soon and in big fights. I want to be world champion again, and I’ll be back very soon.”

Commentator and recently retired boxer Andre Ward said of Stephen Smith’s injury: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that in a boxing match…in an ear that was not bitten.” Photo: Ed Mulholland, HBO Boxing

Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, is President/Owner of the Falcon Valley Group in San Diego, California. She is a veteran boxing observer covering the Sweet Science for Communities. Read more Ringside Seat in Communities Digital News. Follow Gayle on Facebook and on Twitter @PRProSanDiego.

Please credit “Gayle Falkenthal for Communities Digital News” when quoting from or linking to this story.

Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, MS, APR, is President of the Falcon Valley Group, a San Diego based communications consulting firm. Falkenthal is a veteran award-winning broadcast and print journalist, editor, producer, talk host and commentator. She is an instructor at National University in San Diego, and previously taught in the School of Journalism & Media Studies at San Diego State University.